Family Roots run deep for booming grocery business
Bob Brown, left the coal business to open Brown’s Corner Market in 1945. The original corner store was in a clapboard house on State Street, where the parking lot of Brown’s County Market now stands and was run by Bob Brown, his wife Marion, and their son, Stephen. That first store had shelf space for only one row of products, which was stocked by hand, one can at a time. A good day’s profit in 1946 was $40.
Bob’s son, Stephen, took over right around the time the second Brown’s Super Market was built in 1958. Stephen retired in 19xx, leaving the management of the new 35,000 square foot Sycamore store to his youngest son, Dan Brown. Two other Brown children also chose to work in the grocery business. Robera Brown Smith runs the new Brown’s in Genoa, and the oldest son, Stephen R.C. Brown, runs a grocery business in Wasillia, Alaska.
Stephen & Betty, Robert & Marion Brown
Over the years, Brown’s survivied break-ins, bomb threats and meat cutter strikes but the main thing is, it’s held up to the changing times. “Forty grocery stores have come and gone in Sycamore during the 47 years Brown’s has been in business,” owner Dan Brown said. Brown explained the store has stayed in the game with a combination of modernization and old-fashioned service. “We’re probably most noted for our service. We’ve always treated customers the way we want to be treated. We do so many things our competitors won’t do. We make just about anything in our deli, we do special cuts of meat, we do a tremendous amount of special orders,” he said.
Brown said he has seen changes in grocery shopping over the years. “It’s faster paced now,” he said. “People go through the store faster. People shop around more. They tend to buy more sale items. They’re more apt to change brands, not so brand loyal.”
The new stores have the latest in check-out technology, with computer keyboards that allow the cashier to face the customers. The scanning and the computerization have made the grocery business much easier, Brown said. “That allows us to shift labor time into other areas – more time for customer service and display work,” he said. The new Brown’s County Markets offer a deli, fresh fruit and vegetables from the Chicago Produce Market, All American Angus beef, a seafood section, bakery, fresh-cut flowers, cards, videos and so much more. The Brown family invites you to stop in today!
